Page contents
- What is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?
- symptoms
- Causes and risk factors
- Multiples
- Diagnosis
- treatment
- protection
- Alternative therapies
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that affects millions of children and accompanies them even in adulthood. Among the problems that have been attributed to attention and focus disorder: lack of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior.
Children who develop this disorder in particular have low self-evaluation, problematic social relationships and low educational attainment.
Although the available treatment for this disorder is not able to cure it, it may contribute to treating the symptoms of the disorder, and treatment usually includes psychological counseling, or taking appropriate pharmacological drugs, or it may consist of a combination of both.
The diagnosis of the disorder may raise feelings of fear or even horror, and the symptoms that accompany the disorder may pose a challenge to parents and children alike, but the treatment of this disorder may constitute a positive turning point, and therefore most children with the disorder may reach to become active and full of life and successful.
Normal versus ADHD behaviors
Most healthy children suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity or impulsive behaviors at some point in their lives. For example, parents may worry about the behavior of their three-year-old child if he does not listen to a story they tell him from beginning to end, so they suspect that not listening to the story Completely diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
But most children of pre-school age tend to focus for short periods of time, and therefore they are not able to continue doing one activity for a relatively long period of time. In addition, the focus of school-age students or even adults often depends on how much they are interested in a topic activity.
For example, teens may be able to listen to music or talk to their friends for hours, and find it difficult to focus for long when preparing for their homework and homework.
This applies to hyperactivity as well. Children are naturally very energetic as they cause their parents to stress and fatigue before they themselves get tired, and in some cases children may become hyperactive after they become stressed, hungry, anxious or exposed to a new environment.
Some children are naturally more energetic than others; Therefore, no child should be classified as having ADHD simply because they differ in behavior from their siblings or peers only.
It is not correct to classify children who show some problems in their behavior in the context of school only, while their behavior is normal at home or when playing with their friends, as having this disorder.
This applies to both types of children with hyperactivity disorder, as well as those with attention deficit disorder, as long as their actions do not harm their relationships with their friends or the performance of their homework.
Medical conditions similar in symptoms to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
There are a number of medical conditions that may cause symptoms that are very similar to those of ADHD, including:
- Learning or language impairment.
- A mental disorder such as anxiety or depression.
- hyperthyroidism;
- Disorders accompanied by epileptic seizures.
- Fetal alcohol syndrome.
- Illness in hearing or sight.
- Tourette syndrome.
- Sleep disorders.
- Asperger syndrome.
- Autism
Some of the medical conditions listed here may lead to symptoms very similar to those of ADHD, but not only are the symptoms similar but it is estimated that at least one in three children with ADHD has one of these conditions. medical conditions, or other similar medical conditions.
Symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Although some children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder suffer from one side of this equation, most children suffer from the mixture that includes the two disorders together, and the first signs and symptoms of a disorder appear when performing activities that require concentration and intellectual effort, on the face of it. particular.
The signs and symptoms of a disorder appear in most children who are diagnosed before the age of seven, and some children may even have the first symptoms at a younger age, such as during infancy.
1. Symptoms of lack of attention and concentration
Symptoms of attention deficit and focus disorder include:
- The child is often unable to pay attention to details, or to make some mistakes caused by lack of attention in preparing his homework, or when performing other activities.
- Most of the time, the child is unable to stay alert and alert while doing certain tasks, schoolwork or while playing, and the child appears to not listen to what is being said even when approached directly.
- The child shows difficulty in carrying out or following instructions and is often unsuccessful in completing his homework, homework or other duties.
- The child shows difficulty in organizing while preparing homework or doing other tasks.
- The child evades the implementation of duties that he does not like and that require intellectual effort, such as: homework at school or home jobs.
- A child with this disorder tends to lose things, such as: books, pens, toys, and tools.
- A child with this disorder can be distracted very easily.
- The child tends to forget some things.
- The child is irritable and restless, moves nervously and squirms a lot.
- The child tends to leave the classroom a lot, or finds it difficult to sit in place for an extended period of time when expected.
- The child tends to run or climb, and sometimes he does these behaviors exaggeratedly and inappropriately.
- Most of the time the child cannot play quietly and calmly.
- The child appears always active and mobile most of the time.
- The child tends to talk excessively.
- The child tends to answer before they have finished hearing the whole question.
- Most of the time, the child cannot wait for his or her turn and stick to the turn.
- The child tends to interrupt or get confused when others are talking or playing.
2. Symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsive behavior disorder
Symptoms that indicate hyperactivity and impulsive behavior disorder include:
There is a difference in the behavior of people with hyperactivity disorder and impulsive behavior between boys and girls:
- Boys' hyperactivity dominates, while girls' inattentiveness dominates.
- In girls, the inattention is mainly daydreaming, while the hyperactivity of boys is the tendency to play or engage in absurd, purposeless things.
- Boys tend to be less attentive and follow the instructions of their teachers or other adults, which makes the problematic behavior more noticeable.
If you notice that some of your child's behavior is frequently hyperactive or inattentive, there may be reason to suspect that your child's behavior is caused by the disorder, if:
- The continuation of these behaviors for a period of more than six months.
- The appearance of these behaviors in more than one window.
- The child is constantly disruptive at school, whether while playing or doing other daily activities.
- The child's relationships with adults or with his peers are problematic.
Causes and risk factors for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Many parents tend to blame themselves when their child is diagnosed with ADHD, but researchers are becoming increasingly convinced over time that the causes of the disorder are genetic, rather than poor or faulty parental choices.
Although only a few secrets of attention deficit and attention deficit disorder have been revealed, researchers have been able to identify some factors that may have an impact on this disorder:
1. Causes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
The main reasons include the following:
- A change in the structure or performance of the brain.
While the exact cause of ADHD is still unknown, brain images showed significant changes in brain structure and performance in people with ADHD. For example, it was noted that there was decreased activity in the brain regions responsible for activity and attention.
- genetics
ADHD appears to be genetically passed down from generation to generation, with one in forty children with the disorder having at least one family relative with the disorder.
- Smoking by the mother during pregnancy and the use of toxic substances that cause addiction
A pregnant woman who smokes increases the risk of giving birth to a child with ADHD. Excessive consumption of alcohol and addictive substances during pregnancy can cause a drop in the activity of neurons that produce chemical messengers between nerves.
Pregnant women who are exposed to toxic environmental pollutants are also more likely to give birth to children with ADHD symptoms.
2. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Risk Factors
Risk factors that increase the risk of developing ADHD include:
- Exposing the fetus to toxic substances.
- Smoking, drinking alcohol, or using addictive substances during pregnancy.
- A family history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or other behavioral or psychiatric disorders.
- Premature birth.
- hyperthyroidism;
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
Complications of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Children with ADHD may face many difficulties in their lives as a result of having this disorder, including:
- They face difficulties during educational lessons, which may cause failure in educational achievement, in addition to being subjected to constant criticism, both from their peers and from adults.
- Boys who do not have this disorder are more likely to be involved in various accidents and receive blows or injuries.
- They have difficulty cooperating with peers or adults.
- They are at greater risk of consuming alcoholic beverages and taking addictive substances.
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder - O. D. D.
- behavioral disorders
- Depression.
- Learning dyslexia.
Diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
There is no single test for diagnosing ADHD, which makes it difficult to diagnose this disorder. Gathering as much information as possible about a child with ADHD is the best way to accurately diagnose this disorder, and to exclude the possibility of many other disorders that may affect children at an early stage. Childhood.
The first stage of diagnosis begins with a comprehensive medical examination of the child, which includes asking questions related to the child's general health, medical problems, and the appearance of signs or symptoms of problems and other issues that may appear in the school or home environment.
Children with ADHD show signs of prolonged use and have great difficulty in particularly stressful situations or while doing an activity that requires high levels of attention and concentration, such as reading, solving math problems, or thinking games.
Most doctors believe that it is incorrect to classify a child as having this disorder unless he or she had significant early childhood signs and symptoms that contributed to persistent problems at home or at school.
1. Criteria for the diagnosis of ADHD and ADHD
To confirm the diagnosis that a child has ADHD, they must have at least six or more of the symptoms in the following categories:
- Attention Deficit Category
The most prominent symptoms include the following:
- Most of the time, the child's inability to pay attention to details or a tendency to make inattentional errors in homework or other activities.
- Often the child's inability to remain alert while completing tasks or assignments, or while playing.
- The child does not listen to what is said to him, even when directed to him.
- Showing the child difficulty in following and implementing instructions and not succeeding in most cases in completing schoolwork, homework, or the tasks assigned to him.
- Difficulty organizing when carrying out other duties or tasks.
- The child's reluctance to do tasks he does not like or tasks that require mental effort.
- The tendency of the child often to lose and lose his belongings, such as: dolls, homework, pens, and books.
- Child distraction, easily noticeable.
- The tendency of the child to forget some things and issues.
- Hyperactivity or impulsive behavior category
The most prominent symptoms include:
- The child is restless, moves his hands and feet nervously and often squirms in his seat.
- A child is more likely to leave his seat in class or is unable to stay seated for a relatively long time when expected in some circumstances.
- The child tends to run or climb, and sometimes performs these behaviors exaggeratedly and inappropriately, and this condition in adults is often the lack of a sense of comfort.
- The child cannot play quietly and calmly most of the time.
- The child appears to be in constant motion most of the time and acts as if he is working with a motor.
- The child tends to speak exaggeratedly.
- The child tends to answer before he hears the whole question.
- Most of the time the child can't wait for his turn.
- A child tends to interrupt or disturb others while others are talking or playing.
3. How to determine if a child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
In addition to matching six of the above symptoms in each of the two categories, a child is considered to have ADHD when:
- The child shows signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity that lead to improper behavior before he reaches the age of seven.
- He engages in unacceptable behavior that does not fit the behavior of normal children who do not have the disorder.
- These symptoms appear for a period of time longer than six months.
- The child shows signs of improper behavior in the school setting, in daily life at home, and in his relationships with those around him, so that these behaviors appear in more than one environment.
4. How to determine the most specific topical diagnosis in ADHD
In addition, a child with ADHD receives a more specific topical diagnosis, such as:
- Observed Attention Deficit Disorder
When a child has at least six of the symptoms of attention-deficit/focus disorder listed above.
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity
When the child has at least six of the symptoms that fall into the list of symptoms of hyperactivity or impulsive behavior mentioned above.
- Complex Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
When a child has at least six of the symptoms that fall into each of the two categories mentioned above.
5. Diagnosis of attention deficit and focus disorders in young children
Although symptoms of the disorder may appear in children of compulsory nursery age or even in children at a younger age, diagnosing this disorder in very young children is a complex and difficult process.
This is because developmental problems such as delayed speech development may be misdiagnosed as ADHD, so the diagnosis of ADHD in very young children should be made by a specialist in the area, such as: A psychologist, psychiatrist who specializes in speech and language therapy, or a child development specialist.
6. Questionnaires and interview
Since the symptoms of the disorder are often not visible during a routine medical examination, the attending physician uses a face-to-face interview and questionnaires to learn more about the child's behavior.
The pediatrician may ask to speak to the child's teachers or other people who know the child well, such as the babysitter who takes care of the child, and the coaches or mentors the child always sees. The doctor may also use a special scale to collect and evaluate information about the child.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment
The most important treatments include the following:
1. Pharmacotherapy
Stimulant and sedative medications are the most widely used drug treatments today to treat ADHD in children, and they include:
- Methylphenidate.
- Dextroamphetamine (Dextroamphetamine).
Although scientists do not yet know exactly how these pharmaceutical drugs affect, the prevailing impression among them is that these drugs work to stimulate the brain and balance the concentration levels of chemicals in the brain, known as neurotransmitters.
These drugs contribute to improving the main symptoms and signs associated with the disorder, such as attention deficit, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, sometimes to a very large degree. However, the effect of these drugs lasts only for a very short time, and goes away very quickly.
The following are the most common side effects in children when taking stimulant drug treatments:
- Loss of appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Sleep disturbances and problems.
- Nervousness and lack of calm when the effect of the drug wears off.
These stimulant drugs may also have an effect in slowing the growth and development of children, but this delay is often not permanent, and there has been some concern and apprehension about the use of stimulant drugs among children who suffer from the disorder and have not yet reached school age.
2. Pharmacotherapy of the disorder and cardiac problems
Some cases of death from heart failure have actually been recorded in some children and adolescents who take these stimulant drugs, but we are talking here about rare cases.
3. Treatment with sedatives
This treatment is mainly used for children who suffer from the disorder and for whom treatment with stimulant medicines does not work, or for children who have symptoms and side effects from taking stimulant medicines.
Other treatments used to treat children with the disorder include:
- Antidepressants.
- Clonidine.
4. Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with Counseling
Children with this disorder often benefit greatly from counseling and guidance therapy conversations, or from behavioral therapy, all of these treatments can be received by a group of professionals including: a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, social worker or professionals qualified in various areas of mental health and licensed to provide these treatments.
Some children with the disorder may suffer from other phenomena such as anxiety disorder or depression, and in such cases counseling and guidance can help in treating the disorder itself, in addition to treating the accompanying phenomena.
Common types of counseling include:
- Psychotherapy.
- Behavioral therapy.
- Family therapy.
- Training to acquire social skills and qualifications.
- Treatment by support groups.
The best results can be achieved from these therapies provided that teachers, parents, therapists, counselors or psychiatrist work together and work together as a group towards a common goal.
Parents can play a central and decisive role by making efforts to coordinate joint work and cooperation with teachers, and by directing them to qualified and trusted sources to receive the information and support needed to improve their child's situation while studying.
Prevention of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
There is no way to completely prevent and prevent ADHD, but there are some steps that parents can take to prevent symptoms and problems caused by the disorder and to ensure the physical, psychological and emotional health of the child as much as possible, and among these steps:
- All practices and behaviors that could harm the healthy development of the fetus, such as abstaining from alcohol, smoking, cigarettes, or consuming addictive substances, should be avoided.
- The child must be preserved and protected from exposure to polluting and toxic materials, including: cigarette smoke, manufactured chemicals, agricultural pesticides and paints that contain lead.
- Parents must be persistent in their behavior by setting clear boundaries and drawing clear conclusions from their children's behaviour.
- Parents should take care of building a consistent daily routine for their children, with regard to the hour to bed in the evening, the hour to wake up in the morning, meal times, times to complete simple household tasks, and times to watch TV.
- Parents should refrain from doing multiple actions when talking to the child, as it is necessary to maintain eye contact with the child when dictating instructions, and it is recommended that parents devote a few minutes a day to compliment and praise the child.
- Parents should cooperate fully with their child's teachers and therapists so that problems that may arise are diagnosed as early as possible.
- If the child is diagnosed with the disorder or any other disorder that affects his educational attainment or his social relationships, parents should be aware that early treatment may greatly help in alleviating the impact on organizing a healthy lifestyle for the child.
Alternative therapies
Little research indicates that alternative therapies may help significantly relieve symptoms that may accompany the disorder, although some of these treatments contribute to this:
1. Alternative treatments
Among the alternative treatments are the following:
- diet
Most diets approved to treat this disorder focus on abstaining from foods that are believed to cause hyperactivity, such as: sugars and caffeine, as well as foods known to cause allergies, such as: wheat, milk, and eggs.
Some of these diets recommend abstaining from artificial food coloring and food additives, and to date there is no consistent relationship between diets and the relief of symptoms and signs of the disorder.
- Botanical additives
There is still no final say on whether taking St John's wort, ginseng, ginkgo, TCM, or any other medicinal herb helps treat the disorder.
- essential fatty acids
This group of acids, which includes omega-3 acids, are very vital to the functioning of the brain.
- Neurofeedback training
Neurofeedback records the electrical activities of the brain waves. This treatment consists of a fixed number of sessions during which the child is asked to focus on certain specific activities while the child uses a device that displays his or her brainwave combination.
The child theoretically learns to maintain and control the structures of his own brain waves, which are those from the front of the brain, and in this way relieve the symptoms of ADHD.
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